Another year, another great collection of photos! Lehigh Valley residents once again took to the lens to capture memorable scenes we can all relate to. Landscapes, baseball stadiums, amusements parks and pets—these photographers reminded us of the beauty all around. So without further ado, here are the winning pics!
Presented by The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, Olympus America, Inc. and Dan's Camera City, to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
1st Place: Fresh Catch
Jaime Martino, Allentown
Jaime Martino isn't particularly fond of winter weather—but her children are. “I hate the cold,” she says, “so when they want to play outside, it's a good thing to get me out of the house. It makes me feel better when I see them playing and having fun. The best part about having kids is that you get to relive the magical times that only take place in childhood.”
This photo depicts Martino's two-year-old daughter, Georgia experiencing snow for the first time. “Georgia was so excited by the snow, and [she] was this bright, little creature running around in a white world,” she recalls.
Martino, a stay-at-home mother of three, said that she began taking photography seriously about three years ago, and she's found it to be the perfect activity for the whole family. “We can go out together and while I take pictures I'm also documenting our lives,” she says.
2nd Place: Going Home
Christine Figler, Center Valley
It was during a weekend hike at Hawk Mountain when Christine Figler was inspired to snap this majestic scene. “I never go anywhere without my camera, and I took a lot of pictures that day,” she says. The view that really caught her eye, though, was that of a bench overlooking the landscape. A self-described “serious hobbyist and advanced amateur photographer,” Figler, who is also a cancer nurse at St. Luke's Hospital, entered this photo primarily because the contest's entry fee supports leukemia and lymphoma research.
“I entitled it ‘Going Home' because of the empty bench and then the vast expanse of the sky. It reminded me of all of the cancer patients that I have taken care of, and of what life is all about,” Figler says. “Knowing that you can never take anything for granted, that your life may change in an instant, makes taking pictures precious to me. I think photography makes you actually see the world, rather than just look at it.”
3rd Place: Airedale Delight
Erin Flaherty, Forty Fort
“I had brought my camera into the backyard with the intention of shooting flowers, but on a hot summer day the presence of a garden hose gave my dog, Nifty, other ideas. She adores water play, and I was lucky enough to capture this moment with her,” explains photography enthusiast Erin Flaherty.
Over the last year, Flaherty has immersed herself in her new hobby and it all started with a win at the Sands casino. “My friend encouraged me to put my casino winnings to good use; I jumped into the world of photography and bought a camera,” she says.
Since then, Flaherty has taken photography courses and continues to learn about the various camera functions and settings. “I am so grateful to that friend who introduced me to photography and patiently encourages me,” Flaherty says. “I love seeing the world in a whole new way!”
compiled by meghan decker & gabriella lee
